Andrew paced the deck of the Diamond so often over the following days, the crew joked they had to re-varnish the wood every night to undo the wear and tear on the sheen where he walked. Andrew answered their jibes with a smile, appreciating their efforts to keep up his spirits amid increasing anxiety for Tirnan and the merfolk community at El Paradiso. Ignoring their current lapse in decorum, he allowed them to work without shirts or in just shorts since tensions were high and there were no passengers on board.
He watched as more ships powered past them and helicopters flew overhead, turning the world’s attention to the unremarkable tropic island, previously known to few people for its beauty and shallow warm waters. Another advantage for the Diamond, since she drew less water than the la
